Vikings Run Win Streak to Four With 4-2 Win Over Central Michigan

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Brian Long worked eight solid innings and Josh Geric drove in two runs as Cleveland State won its fourth straight game, a 4-2 triumph over Central Michigan in the second day of the Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic at Braun Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

"This was a great win for us," head coach Kevin Kocks said. "The guys are really playing well and starting to learn the system that we have been teaching. We are pitching well, playing good defense and getting some timely hitting."

Long worked eight innings, giving up two runs on six hits, while fanning six as he improved to 2-1 this season.

Chris Bauman worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.

The Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first back stringing together three consecutive singles. Alex Kerins started it with a one out single, advanced to second on a single by Kyle Bischof and came around to score on a Geric single.

However, CMU tallied a pair of runs in the third to take a 2-1 lead. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Vikings came back to plate a run in the bottom of the third to knot the score at 2-2.

The rally was started with a leadoff single from Tom Carter. He advanced to second on a groudout from Brad Buell and came around to score on a Kerins single.

The game stayed that way until the sixth when Geric delivered another RBI, but this time, it was with a ball that didn't leave the infield. With runners on second and third and one out, Geric sent a bunt toward the right side of the infield which scored Kerins with the go-ahead run.

CSU used some more small ball in the eighth to score an insurance run.

Buell ledoff the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. He was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kerins and came around to score on a Bischof single.

Bischof finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Geric went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Kerins also had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run.

The Vikings will conclude play in the Classic on Sunday afternoon with an 11:00 a.m. CST contest against North Dakota State.